Expedia.com Expedia Now in Five European Countries Through Expansion Into Netherlands And Italy
BELLEVUE, Wash. – Sept. 25, 2001 – Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is further expanding its international offering with the launch of sites in the Netherlands and Italy via www.expedia.nl and www.expedia.it , respectively. The new sites give Expedia® a presence in a total of five European countries, adding to existing Expedia services in the UK and Germany and recently-announced plans to launch in France, and are the latest evidence of Expedia's growth and strength in Europe.
In Italy and the Netherlands, the Expedia service will offer travelers access to its network of more than 45,000 hotels and 15,000 holiday rental properties, including 2,600 hotels at which customers can obtain the lowest guaranteed prices with Expedia® Special Rates. Through Expedia's unique business model and exclusive partner relationships, Dutch and Italian travelers will be able to book rooms in both major hotel chains and individual establishments, plus holiday rental properties, in more than 60 European cities and throughout the world.
Besides launching the new URLs, Expedia will continue to be distributed in Italy and the Netherlands through in-country partners including portals such as MSN.
The launch of the two new sites builds on the success of Expedia's localized services in the UK, Germany, and Canada, and its joint venture in France with SNCF, the leading state-owned railways group.
“Expedia's launch in the Netherlands and Italy, and our new French joint venture, are the latest examples of our commitment to building our international business, particularly in Europe,” said Simon Breakwell, senior vice president, international and managing director of Expedia Europe. “The sites' superb functionality, award-winning technology, ease of use and integration, and Expedia's proven record of profitability presents a great opportunity for online travel suppliers and travelers alike.”
With $1.8 billion in gross bookings in calendar year 2000, Expedia was the 7th largest US travel agency, online or offline. In the June quarter of 2001, the company generated $802 million in gross travel bookings, making Expedia one of the top three consumer ecommerce businesses in the world.
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE) operates Expedia.com® a leading, independent online travel service in the United States with localized versions in Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to future events or future financial performance that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are only predictions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based upon a number of factors including final adjustments made in closing the quarter and those identified in the Company's filings with the SEC.
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